Helen Adams Realty’s Favorite Charlotte Hot Spots

The Queen City has no shortage of entertainment options for its residents and neighbors. All around Charlotte, you’ll find a new restaurant or bar opening almost every weekend and never run out of places to check out. As the Charlotte area continues to expand, so do its neighboring towns and cities. The surrounding parts of town have grown the same wealth of hot spots to try.

At Helen Adams Realty, we consider our agents to be neighborhood experts of the Queen City, so we went straight to the source to learn more about their favorite spots. Below is where you can find them enjoying all Charlotte has to offer.

Baltimore Crab Cake Company: This food truck is one of Michael Lasek’s favorites in Charlotte. The Baltimore-based food truck caters to the entire Charlotte market, with truck stops throughout the greater Charlotte area. You can find their crab cakes on North Tryon Street or at Sycamore Brewing depending on the day, but take a look at their online schedule for specific time slots.

The Stanley: This new spot in Elizabeth is one of Ellen Kelly’s favorites. Kelly’s go-to menu item is the surf and turf. She also praises their variety of options for craft cocktails, suggesting to order the Nobleman or the Mezcal is the New Black.

The Suffolk Punch:Andy Smith describes this cafe, coffee bar, and taphouse as “top notch food and beer colliding into one historical warehouse.” Its convenient location off the light rail makes it a perfect spot for great food and beverage. The restaurant also plays host to their in-house brewery, Hyde Brewing, with a huge outdoor area and bar. Dogs are welcome outside.

Old Town Public House: This eclectic tap room is quite literally at the center of Cornelius. Regis Murphy frequents the bar and praises the owner for their dedication to the community. With live music every night, a great selection of beer and wine, and the choice of tea or coffee throughout the day, it is a great place to spend time with friends.

Cajun Queen: Tucked in historic Elizabeth, Cajun Queen has been a Charlotte favorite since 1985. With live jazz music upstairs seven nights a week, Lasek says that the restaurant really makes you feel like you are in the Big Easy. The restaurant serves cajun staple menu items like seafood gumbo, shrimp and grits, oysters, and catfish.

Temple Mojo: Smith also recommends Temple Mojo in Matthews for great beer, wine, and coffee. The growler shop primarily serves North Carolina beers and Charlotte roasted coffee, giving the venue a local Charlotte feel. Smith says that the shop’s staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about their wide variety of beers.

Waterbean Coffee: With two locations around Lake Norman, Waterbean Coffee is a go-to coffee house for locals. The shop has grown into locations around Charlotte due to its increasing popularity and Murphy describes their menu as “well above average”. You’ll find lots of seating and space at Waterbean Coffee locations, welcoming their guests to sit down and stay a while.

Resident Culture Brewing: Kelly encourages Charlotteans and visitors to head to Resident Culture Brewing if you are looking for good, local fun. The brewery is host to hop-forward IPAs and pale ales, lagers, barrel aged beers, and wild fermented ales. They work primarily with local farmers, artists, and creatives in Charlotte and throughout the Carolinas in efforts to support the community. Pay a visit at the end of each week when they host Food Truck Fridays.

Waverly: The new shops, restaurants, and offices at Waverly make it a current hot spot for the South Charlotte area. Inside the shopping center you will find Chuy’s Mexican Cantina, Ted’s Montana Grill, and Carolina Ale House to name a few restaurants. Robin Woods says that Waverly is nestled around a large green space for residents to enjoy the outdoors and a splash pad for kids.